Admissions

Applications for graduate study in Public Policy are only accepted from:

1. External applicants seeking a joint degree, or

2. Stanford alumni (who have graduated within the past five years).

External applicants for joint degrees must apply to the department or school offering the other graduate degree (i.e., PhD, MD, MA, MS, MBA, or JD), indicating an interest in the joint degree program; applicants admitted to the other degree program are then evaluated for admission to the MPP program.

To be considered for enrollment beginning in autumn quarter 2027-28, all application materials must be submitted no later than January 28, 2027. Admission notifications will be sent to applicants by April 1, 2027. Admitted students are required to respond to offers of admission by May 15, 2027.

Stanford Alumni within 5 Years of Stanford Degree

Visit the Stanford Office of Graduate Admissions opens in a new tab. The online application for the MPP is available beginning in mid-September 2025. The application fee is $125. The program cannot refund an application fee, so prospective applicants are advised to refer to eligibility requirements before applying.    

Only complete applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed. A complete application includes the following:

1. Application opens in a new tab

2. Official transcripts — copies of student transcripts must bear the institution’s official seal and the registrar’s signature. Upload transcripts to the online application.

3. Test scores — GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT.

4. Letters of recommendation — three confidential letters of recommendation from a Stanford faculty member or an employer should be submitted electronically via the online application. See the Stanford Office of Graduate Admissions website regarding letters of recommendation opens in a new tab. At least one of the three letters must be from a Stanford faculty member.

5. Statement of purpose (not to exceed two pages; upload to the online application).

6. Resume or curriculum vitae (upload to the online application).

7. Prerequisite completion statement demonstrating completion of required prerequisite coursework in calculus and introductory economics.

There are two coterminal degree application deadlines for the 2026-27 academic year: October 22, 2026 and January 21, 2027. A $125 fee is charged when adding the M.A. degree program in Axess. There is no fee to apply. 

Only complete applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed. A complete application includes the following:

1. Coterminal application opens in a new tab

2. Statement of purpose: 1 to 2 pages max, single spaced (indicate interest in M.P.P. degree, if applicable)

3. One-page resume

4. A preliminary program proposal

5. A current unofficial undergraduate transcript

6. Two confidential letters of recommendation from Stanford faculty members familiar with the student's academic work.

Prerequisite Information

• Public Policy (track A) and Economics (track B)  majors must complete the required preparatory course work prior to applying. These courses include:

  • MATH20 - Calculus

  • ECON1 - Principles of Economics

  • PUBLPOL 50 Intermediate Economics for Public Policy

    • OR ECON50 - Economic Analysis

  • ECON102A - Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists

  • ECON102B - Applied Econometrics

• For Track C students, the prerequisite requirements are MATH20 and ECON1. They must be completed before applying to the program. These courses do not count towards the 45-unit M.A. requirement. If you received AP credit for either course please indicate that in the "Additional Information" section. Please note that, if admitted, students who did not take MATH 20 at Stanford should plan to do the math bootcamp, as all students will be expected to use the material in class even though it may have been several years since you have studied the material. 

Financial Aid

The Public Policy Program does not provide financial assistance to coterminal students. For information on student loans and other sources of support, consult the Stanford Financial Aid Office opens in a new tab. Students who enter public service employment with local, state, or federal agencies, schools, or specific not-for-profit organizations may obtain forgiveness for educational loans based on years of public service employment.

Current Stanford Graduate Students

1. Application for Current Stanford Graduate Students opens in a new tab.

2. Two confidential letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a Stanford faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic work.

3. Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

4. GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT test scores.

5. Statement of purpose, not to exceed two pages.

6. Resume or curriculum vitae.

7. Preliminary program proposal opens in a new tab.

8. Prerequisite completion statement demonstrating completion of required prerequisite coursework in calculus and introductory economics prior to matriculation.

If admitted, students will submit a Graduate Authorization Petition opens in a new tab through Axess. A $125 fee is charged when adding the MPP degree program in Axess.